19 Suspected Crude Oil Thieves Docked In A’Ibom

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday arraigned two additional suspected members of a syndicate that specializes in stealing crude oil in Akwa-Ibom State.
Thursday’s arraignment brings to 19 the number of suspects being prosecuted for crude oil theft in the state.
Both men, Arepade Dominic Ekprese and Benson Ekiokekeme Innocent were docked the Magistrate Court sitting at Fulga Road, Uyo.

The Magistrate Court declined jurisdiction on the matter, citing that only the Federal High Court could handle the matter. However, the Magistrate Court remanded the suspects at Uyo Medium Correctional facility for an initial period of twenty-one days.
A security source disclosed that,
on 9th April, 2026 an intelligence-driven operation led by Joint Task Force – South South, Operation Delta Safe(JTF-SS OPDS), busted the syndicate. Twenty-six crew members and two motorised tankers, namely MT WESTAF and MT MKPODU were apprehended.

According to the source, both vessels were arrested while siphoning crude oil from a platform operated by a major oil company operating on the shores of the state.

Seventeen of the suspects and the two vessels were earlier arraigned before the Federal High Court, Uyo and have been remanded at the Medium Security Correctional Centre, Uyo, pending resumption of the matter in September.

The source also revealed that the ongoing intelligence-driven anti-crude oil theft operations across the Niger Delta region are part of the Federal Government’s resolve to shore up the nation’s daily crude oil production, which will in turn increase the country’s foreign exchange earnings.